There was one moment of alarm towards the end of the mass when the Pope appeared to stumble and had to be helped to his feet.

The Pope, who turns 82 later this year, had shown signs of tiredness throughout the day, according to 20 Minutes.

However the pontiff was able to leave the service unassisted.

As people exited Palexpo offerings were taken up to cover the cost of the papal visit, estimated at two million francs, Kath.ch reported.

The diocese of Lausanne, Geneva and Fribourg sounded the alarm last week over a predicted shortfall of 1.5 million francs.

An incident on the railway line between Geneva and Lausanne meant hundreds of people who had attended the event were stuck in Geneva for hours afterwards – some until the early morning on Friday – as intercity trains were cancelled.

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